Air seeder quick attach hose coupling

ABSTRACT

A preferred embodiment of the hose coupling includes an exterior, annular rib on the tubular inlet member to which the hose is to be connected. A resilient boot fixed to the end of the hose has a skirt that extends beyond the end of the hose and is adapted to receive and circumscribe the ribbed end of the inlet member. The skirt and ribbed end of the member are so dimensioned that in order to receive the member, the skirt must be stretched radially outwardly by the rib as the skirt is forced onto the inlet member. When the skirt is fully seated upon the inlet member, the rib becomes received within an annular groove inside the skirt and the skirt relaxes to its original dimension. A lock ring circumscribing the boot may be shifted from an unlocked position inboard of the groove to a locked position outboard of the groove, wherein the ring prevents expansion of the skirt to thereby effectively lock the rib within the retaining groove.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to agricultural seeding machines and, more particularly, to a quick attach coupling for connecting a pneumatic seed delivery hose to the inlet of a metering device or other component of the machine.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/875,729 filed Jun. 24, 2004 titled “Agricultural Planting Machine Having Interchangeable Seed Meters” and assigned to the assignee of the present invention discloses and claims a seeding machine in which seed meters may be interchangeably mounted on openers of the machine. Seeds are carried in airstreams to the meters from a bulk container via a number of separate hoses that have secure air and water-tight connections with the meters. Yet, the hoses must also be detachable to permit interchanging of the meters.

The present invention provides a quick and easy way of disconnecting and reconnecting such hoses to and from seed meters and the like without sacrificing the integrity of an air and water-tight seal between the hose and the meter. Furthermore, it provides a way of accomplishing such attachment and detachment without the use of tools.

In a preferred embodiment a quick attach coupling is provided wherein the hose is provided with a boot that includes a resilient annular skirt fixed to the hose and adapted to receive and surround a rigid annular inlet member on the meter. The inlet member is provided with a transverse rib on its exterior which makes the overall outside diameter of the member at the rib slightly greater than the nominal inside diameter of the skirt. The resiliency of the skirt, however, enables the skirt to stretch as it is forced onto the ribbed end of the member in surrounding relationship thereto. An interior recess within the interior sidewall of the skirt receives the rib and allows the skirt to relax when the inlet member is fully seated within the skirt. In this condition the boot cannot be removed from the member unless the skirt is pulled with sufficient force to cause the rib to disengage from the recess and stretch the skirt outwardly to a larger diameter.

In a preferred embodiment, a lock ring on the skirt is movable axially along the skirt into a locked position in which it circumscribes the inlet member and prevents the skirt from stretching radially outwardly if the skirt attempts to pull off the member. Thus, in its locked position the lock ring prevents accidental detachment of the hose from the inlet member. However, as long as the rib is received within the recess, the lock ring can be quickly and easily shifted manually to an unlocked position spaced away from the inlet member. There the lock ring allows the rib on the inlet member to stretch the skirt outwardly as the skirt is pulled off the member.

In a preferred embodiment, the rib is a continuous annular rib that circumscribes the inlet member, and the recess is a continuous annular groove that complementally receives the rib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an air seeder illustrating a row unit employing a quick attach hose coupling for its seed meter in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a seed meter isolated from the rest of the machine and illustrating the delivery hose and quick attach coupling associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, axial cross-sectional view through the hose and inlet member of the meter illustrating details of construction of the coupling just prior to securing the hose to the inlet member;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the way in which the resilient skirt of the coupling is forced onto the ribbed end of the inlet member; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the inlet member fully seated within the skirt and the lock ring disposed in its locked position to prevent accidental detachment of the hose from the meter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments.

The row unit 10 illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1 is closely similar to the row units disclosed in the above-mentioned co-pending application Ser. No. 10/875,729. Accordingly, the '729 application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification.

Row unit 10 includes an opener 12 swingably mounted on a tool bar 14 for up and down movement and a seed metering module 16 that is removably attached to opener 12. Among other things, module 16 includes a meter 18 relatively permanently affixed to an adapter plate 20 that is in turn releasably attached to opener 12 by hardware including hook 22 and tab 24 (FIG. 2) and an over-center toggle latch 26. A seed supply hose 28 is coupled in open communication with an annular inlet member 30 on meter 18.

In accordance with the present invention, a quick attach coupling, broadly denoted by the numeral 32, is provided for connecting hose 28 to inlet member 30. Coupling 32 includes parts on both the inlet member 30 and the hose 28. In this respect, member 30 is provided with a transversely extending projection at its outer end which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a continuous annular, external rib 34 having a rounded outermost peripheral surface. Rib 34, as well as the rest of member 30, is constructed from a fairly rigid material, preferably a suitable synthetic resinous substance.

As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3-5, one of the parts of coupling 32 on hose 28 comprises a tubular boot 36 having a cylindrical shank portion 38 that circumscribes hose 28 adjacent an end thereof. Shank portion 38 is preferably integrally molded onto hose 28 to securely attach boot 36 to hose 28. Boot 36 further includes a skirt 40 integral with shank portion 38 and projecting axially beyond the terminal end of hose 28. Skirt 40 is radially enlarged with respect to shank portion 38 and defines an internal cavity 42 that is concentrically disposed with respect to the internal passage 44 defined by hose 28. Cavity 42 communicates directly with hose passage 44 due to the tubular nature of boot 36. The inside diameter of cavity 42 is approximately the same as the outside diameter of inlet member 30, except across rib 34 where the outside diameter of member 30 is somewhat larger than the inside diameter of cavity 42.

Boot 36, especially skirt 40, is constructed from a resilient material such as a suitable elastomer so as to have an elastic memory, i.e., the material should be capable of substantially recovering its original size and shape after a deforming force has been removed. One example of a preferred material having the appropriate elastic memory is VO283 black PVC material available from Hoffman Plastic Compounds Inc. of Paramount, Calif.

The interior sidewall 42 a of cavity 42 is straight and parallel to the exterior sidewall 30 a of inlet member 30, except at the ribbed end portion. Cavity 42 ends axially in an inboard, annular floor 46 that circumscribes the outboard end 28 a of hose 28 in concentric relationship therewith. A laterally extending recess, preferably in the form of a continuous, annular groove 48, is provided in the interior sidewall 42 a outboard of floor 46 and immediately adjacent thereto. Groove 48 has a diameter that exceeds the diameter of cavity 42 along sidewall 42 a and corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the ribbed end of inlet member 30 across rib 34. Preferably also, groove 48 is arcuately configured so as to correspond complementally to the configuration of rib 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the outside diameter of the ribbed end of member 30 is greater than the inside diameter of cavity 42. However, due to the resiliency of skirt 40, skirt 40 may be forced onto inlet member 30 as illustrated in FIG. 4 as rib 34 stretches skirt 40 radially outwardly. When member 30 is fully seated within cavity 42 with the outboard extremity of member 30 abutting floor 46 as shown in FIG. 5, rib 34 will be received within groove 48, allowing skirt 40 to relax and resume its initial configuration. In this disposition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, member 30 and hose 28 are disposed in end-to-end alignment, with the internal passage 50 of member 30 in open communication with internal passage 44 of hose 28. Interior sidewall 42 a of cavity 42 snugly contacts exterior sidewall 30 a of member 30 at such time so as to provide an air-tight and water-tight seal.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gripping ability of skirt 40, particularly groove 48 on rib 34, may be relied upon without more to releasably retain hose 28 and member 30 interconnected. In this respect it will be noted that in order for boot 36 to be pulled from member 30, rib 34 must stretch skirt 40 sufficiently in a radially outward direction as to permit rib 34 to leave groove 48. Moreover, skirt 40 must continue to stretch and deflect outwardly a sufficient extent as to permit rib 34 to effectively pass along interior sidewall 42 a and out the open end of skirt 40 as boot 36 continues to pull off member 30. Such resistance to detachment may be wholly adequate in many situations.

However, in a preferred embodiment, coupling 32 also includes a lock ring 52 for selectively keeping boot 36 even more securely connected to member 30. In this respect, it will be seen that lock ring 52 circumscribes boot 36 and has an inside diameter that is large enough to allow ring 52 to move freely along shank portion 38. However, such inside diameter is substantially the same as the outside diameter of skirt 40. Thus, while ring 52 can also move axially along skirt 40, it may slightly compress skirt 40, depending upon the exact dimensions of ring 52 and skirt 40. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of ring 52 is approximately 0.035 inches larger than the nominal outside diameter of skirt 40.

Lock ring 52 has a generally semi-circular cross sectional configuration so as to provide a rounded interior surface 52 a. An annular, exterior stiffening ridge 52 b encircles the semi-circular portion of ring 52 and is integrally connected thereto. Preferably, ring 52 is constructed from a harder and less resilient material than boot 36 such as a high density polyethylene material. One suitable material for ring 52 is available from Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. of Houston, Tex. under the trade name and designation MARLEX HID9012.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, lock ring 52 is movable axially of skirt 40 between an unlocked position of FIGS. 3 and 4 and a locked position of FIG. 5. A radially outwardly projecting, annual lip 54 on the outboard end of skirt 40 serves as a stop to prevent ring 52 from being moved outwardly beyond the locked position. One or more small, radially outwardly extending projections 56 may be spaced slightly inboard of lip 54 to assist in yieldably retaining ring 52 in its locked position. Although projections 56 present a larger transverse dimension for skirt 40 than the inside diameter of ring 52, projections 56 are readily compressible and may be overridden by ring 52 without the application of untoward force to ring 52.

When skirt 40 is fully seated on inlet member 30 with rib 34 received in groove 48 as shown in FIG. 5, lock ring 52 may be shifted axially along skirt 40 between its locked and unlocked positions, due to the smaller diameter of skirt 40 when it is in the relaxed condition. However, when lock ring 42 is in its locked position of FIG. 5, ring 42 prevents skirt 40 from deflecting and stretching radially outwardly to a sufficient extent as to allow rib 34 to move out of groove 48. Thus, rib 34 is effectively locked within groove 48, locking boot 36 on member 30. While lock ring 52 is illustrated as spaced outboard of groove 48 and rib 34 in the locked position of FIG. 5, ring 52 could be located directly radially aligned with groove 48 in the locked position, or only slightly outboard thereof, if desired.

Thus, when attaching hose 28 to meter 18, lock ring 52 is initially disposed up along the shank portion 38 of boot 36 in its unlocked position. Skirt 40 of boot 36 is then pushed onto member 30, with the sidewall of skirt 40 stretching outwardly as necessary to accommodate rib 34, until the end of member 30 abuts floor 46 of cavity 42 and rib 34 slips into groove 48. Once rib 34 is in groove 48, skirt 40 relaxes to its nominal diameter and lock ring 52 may be shifted down along the outside of skirt 40 into its locked position against lip 54. With lock ring 52 in this position, boot 36 is securely attached to meter 18 because ring 52 prevents skirt 40 from expanding in the event rib 34 attempts to leave groove 48.

If it is desired to intentionally disconnect hose 18 from meter 18, lock ring 52 is simply shifted up along skirt 40 and onto shank portion 38 into the unlocked position, overriding the retaining projections 56 in the process. With lock ring 52 so disposed, boot 36 may now be pulled off meter 18 as skirt 40 is allowed to be expanded by rib 34 as it climbs out of groove 48. Once boot 36 is off meter 18, a different meter may be installed or other service work performed. Reconnecting hose 28 to the meter is a simple reversal of this process.

The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims. 

1. A coupling for releasably securing a hose to a tubular member in end-to-end relationship, said coupling comprising: a transverse external rib on an end of said member; and a resilient annular skirt fixed to said hose and adapted to receive and surround the ribbed end of the member, the outside diameter of the ribbed end of the member relative to the inside diameter of the skirt being such that the skirt must be stretched radially outwardly for the ribbed end of the member to be fully received within the skirt, said skirt having an internal recess disposed to receive and releasably retain said rib when the ribbed end of the member is fully received within the skirt, said skirt being operable to stretch radially outwardly and release the rib as the skirt is pulled off the ribbed end of the member.
 2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an external lock ring surrounding said skirt and movable axially therealong between locked and unlocked positions, the inside diameter of said lock ring being such that the lock ring is movable between its locked and unlocked positions when the rib of the member is received within said recess yet the lock ring resists stretching of the skirt by the ribbed end of the member to release the member when the lock ring is in its locked position.
 3. A coupling as claimed in claim 2, said unlocked position being axially inboard of said recess and said locked position being axially outboard of said recess.
 4. A coupling as claimed in claim 2, said skirt having an external stop disposed to engage and prevent the lock ring from moving beyond its locked position.
 5. A coupling as claimed in claim 4, said stop comprising a continuous annular lip.
 6. A coupling as claimed in claim 4, said skirt further having an external abutment spaced axially from said stop and cooperable therewith to yieldably retain the lock ring in its locked position.
 7. A coupling as claimed in claim 6, said abutment being compressible and of such dimension that the lock ring can forcibly override the abutment during movement of the lock ring into and out of the locked position.
 8. A coupling as claimed in claim 2, said lock ring being less resilient than said skirt.
 9. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, said skirt defining a cavity that receives the ribbed end of the member, said cavity having an annular floor at an inner end thereof disposed for abutting engagement with the ribbed end of the member when the rib is received within said recess.
 10. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, said rib comprising a continuous annular rib that circumscribes the member.
 11. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, said skirt being constructed from elastomeric material.
 12. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, said skirt comprising part of a boot secured to said hose, said boot further comprising a shank portion surrounding said hose and molded thereon, said skirt being integrally joined with the shank portion and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond the end of the hose.
 13. A coupling as claimed in claim 1, said recess comprising a continuous annular groove. 